Upskilling refers to the act of teaching an employee new or additional skills. This can be through continuing education, in-house training, or even by earning certifications. According to the Association for Talent Development, offering employees new skills can boost productivity, reduce turnover rates, improve employee satisfaction, and increase employee retention.

Upskilling is also a way to ensure your organization prepares for the future. Many employees lack specific skills needed for their position regardless of work experience. The focus should be on upskilling quality candidates with an aptitude for learning. 

Upskilling differs from reskilling, which entails teaching employees new skills to complete a different role or job function. 

Employers are beginning to realize the value of continued training and upskilling. One way to capitalize on this is by opening up your organization’s job pool to employees who may not have the correct job experience but are eager to learn new concepts and skills.

You will gain a much larger pool of candidates by focusing your time and energy on employees who display the qualities you wish to develop.
Consider not only the candidate on the paper but how they think. The intangibles are sometimes more valuable than experience. These unproven skills, when developed, can raise the ceiling of an employee in ways that work experience will not.

Employee development programs continue to grow, and as they gain visibility from employers, program results will become much more valuable. Measuring these results will help you gauge the success of the programs and offer direction for further growth and improvement. 

Offering a post-training survey can provide invaluable insight into the program’s overall effectiveness. As previously mentioned, these programs are geared toward future development and employee success. Your organization will need to adapt and make continuous improvements to the program based on your feedback. 

One of the most important benefits you can offer your employees is a personalized method for growth. Every employee is different and will require additional tools to help them succeed. Some employers send employees off-site for training and development, while others focus more on micro-learning experiences on site. There are benefits to both, but the real advantage lies in the option to choose. 

Related Terms: Retention Strategy